Area Code 1138 – São Paulo - SP

Overview of Area Code 1138

Area code 1138 is a geographic prefix within the National Destination Code (NDC) 11, which serves the city of São Paulo and its surrounding metropolitan region in the state of São Paulo (SP), Brazil. The NDC 11 covers the Greater São Paulo area, including the capital and dozens of adjacent municipalities such as Guarulhos, Osasco, and Santo André. The specific prefix 1138 is allocated to landline (fixed) telephone services within this region, following the Brazilian numbering plan administered by ANATEL (Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações).

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

Numbers with the 1138 prefix are assigned to subscribers located within the municipality of São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil and the economic hub of South America. The prefix is not tied to a specific neighborhood but is distributed across the city's central and expanded urban zones. As a geographic number, the prefix indicates the physical location of the fixed line, which is relevant for emergency services, local taxation, and number portability rules.

Dialing Format and Caller Instructions

For local calls within the same NDC (11), callers must dial the 8-digit subscriber number preceded by the prefix. For example, to reach a number with prefix 1138, a local caller would dial 1138-XXXX (8 digits total). For calls from outside the 11 area code but within Brazil, the full national format is required: 0 + operator code + 11 + 1138-XXXX. For international callers, the format is +55 11 1138-XXXX. Note that the leading '0' is used for operator selection in Brazil, and the carrier code (e.g., 15 for Vivo, 21 for Embratel) must be included for intercity calls.

Overlay and Numbering Considerations

Currently, NDC 11 does not have an overlay code; the area code 11 is the sole geographic code for the region. However, due to high demand, ANATEL has implemented number pooling and the use of additional prefixes to ensure sufficient numbering resources. The 1138 prefix is part of the traditional fixed-line range, but with the growth of VoIP and fixed wireless access, some numbers may be routed over IP networks, though they remain geographically associated with São Paulo.

Practical Examples

• Local call (within São Paulo): Dial 1138-XXXX (8 digits).
• National long-distance (from Rio de Janeiro): Dial 0 + 21 (operator) + 11 + 1138-XXXX.
• International call (from the USA): Dial 011 55 11 1138-XXXX.

When dialing from abroad, always drop the leading '0' of the Brazilian trunk prefix and use the country code +55. Ensure you have the correct 8-digit subscriber number, as omitting the prefix or misdialing the area code will result in a failed call.